Tumours in Mice after Pulmonary Deposition of Radioactive Particles

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Abstract
The intratracheal administration to BAF1 or CAF1 mice of plutonium and ruthenium particles suspended in Tween-80 or Pluronics caused an increased incidence of pulmonary adenomas compared with controls at levels of 0·1 μc 239PuO2 and 3·0 µc 106RuO2. Decreased incidence of adenomas was obtained at 0·16 µc 239PuO2 and 24·0 µc 106RuO2. Intravenous administration of similar particles caused an increased incidence at a level of 0·16 µc 239Pu(OH)4 and a decrease at 0·37 µc 239PuO2. Certain inconsistencies in the incidence values were noted. Histological lesions resulting from deposition of plutonium particles included fibrosis with bronchiolar proliferation and squamous metaplasia. Ruthenium particles caused the presence of numerous bizarre cells in fibrotic lesions. Plutonium particles were considered responsible for the development of two squamous-cell carcinomas and a bronchiolar carcinoma. Two bronchiolar carcinomas occurred in ruthenium-treated animals.